battier is one heck of a defender but mad max controlled jordan like no other. who do you think is the better defender 1 on 1?
Max was the better on ball defender due to his athleticism, Battier the better team defender. I'd still take Battier based upon the other baggage Max would bring, he could shoot you out of games, Battier stays within the system.
if the rox are leading and kobe takes the last shot, i'd rather have maxwell. battier is a better team defender.
While it's close, purely from a defensive standpoint, I'd take Battier. You have to remember that Maxwell played in an era where hand-checking was allowed. Battier has to guard the top offensive players in an age where he can't put a finger on them when they're facing the basket. Who knows how Mad Max would have fared under today's rules. Probably pretty well, but Battier has proven to be an elite defender even under today's tough rules.
battier can un-shoot you out of games too...sometimes i tear my hair out at his lack of aggressiveness with shooting the ball. the guy's not a scrub on offense but he acts like he is.
That's true, and a much better comparison. But Max was 6'4", 190, and Ron is 6'7", 245. Max wasn't nearly the physical specimen that the Tru Warier is. Played with the same kind of heart, though.
I think Maxwell was much quicker than Artest. Reggie Miller thinks Maxwell is like Brett Favre http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/da...8/09/08/DP-Reggie_Miller-9-8-08_Interview.mp3 http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=153895
that also translates to speed and quickness. Ron Artest is more versatile though, he can guard the 3 and 4. However, if I had to choose one to guard a 2 or a 1, that would be Maxwell.
i'll take shane for the guy who will take charges from anybody. however, on offense, this guy was the better ball handler
Not to denigrate Max's defensive abilities, but let's not underestimate the effectiveness of hand checking that was allowed in Max's day. Eliminating hand checking was huge.
They are totally different. Mad Max is much shorter than Shane. He could guard people that shane could not.
Maxwell was good, but Battier is much smarter. He studies stats and knows players tendencies. Maxwell relied on his instincts, similar to Ron.
See, this was what I'm talking about...an original thread. Props. Anyway...I agree with the hand checking thing...I always wonder how the league would be now if the 90s defensive rules were around.
On the other side, Maxwell dropped 51 points in one game, including 30 points in a one quarter WITH HANDCHECKING. He would drop 61 points in that game without handchecking. Also, when they changed the hand check rule in 95, an older Kenny Smith dropped some serious scoring vs the Jazz and Magic.
+1 Shane and Ron would be even better defensively with the old rules, I do think that Ron would probably benefit more because of his stronger upper body and more agressive techniques. Shane is already great at funneling offensive players towards the help defense, If he was allowed to hand check it would make him that much more effective.
sometimes your best defense is your best offense and mad max would take it to the hoop or shoot a deadly three (clutch 3's were amazin) . yeah battier was your schooled disciplined defensive elite but mad max could lite up for 30 in a quarter and gave fits to jordan and miller on both ends of the floor.
